Maybe I’m making an assumption there, but don’t these two make a fabulous picture together? And I remember the Dolphin from my cab driving days in San Diego, in 1976. It had a rep; the kind of place a Marine freshly released from the nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot (boot camp) or a couple of sailors on shore leave might ask to be taken to. And not just to catch up on their sleep. Shot by SoCalMetro.

The ’75-’76 versions always remind of Pierce Brosnan’s black 1976 Fleetwood 75 in Remington Steele. Indeed, the show itself is a veritable street set of classics from the late 60s-mid 80s which are driven by the cast, extras, or part of street scenes since the series aired during the early-mid 80s.

Probably one of the last shows where a limousine was used without a negative (“Trading Places/Wall Street”) or tacky (any prom movie from 1985 or so onward) context. Perhaps no coincidence I think it was also the last show scored by Henry Mancini, the end of an era.

Still if I had the means, I would not object to having Fred drive me around in a black one.

You’d be surprised, Carmine. I once had to make an unscheduled stop in Daytona Beach and checked in into a little motel very similar to this one. Not by choice, but because everything else that was up to my standards was full. I thought it was going to be a roach pit, but surprisingly, the place was antiseptic clean, very well kept. One of the instances in life which taught me not to judge a book by its cover.

They spelled LSD wrong on the sign. That motel reminds me of the numerous old school hotels around Portland that probably used to be on a major thoroughfare before the Interstates kind of took over. The Caddy looks good for being 30 plus years old, but the third side window looks a bit awkward.

I have owned a 73 and 76 Fleetwood Limousine and a 76 Fleetwood Talisman. All were low mileage cars which seem to have bulletproof engines and interiors that held up well. It was those outside pieces that rotted even when washed, waxed and while living inside hidden from the elements. Thankfully we have the aftermarket people to help with the facelifts as they age.